Photographed, Edited and Written by Chanse Simpson
At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak East of the Mississippi River, and home to North Carolina's first state park. The weather on the mountain is more typical of Canada than the Southern United States. In the winter months, the park is frequently slammed with snowstorms, and often has more than 100 inches of snow annually. For the rangers and maintenance staff who live on the mountain, dealing with the snow and sub-zero temperatures is a constant challenge. This video shows a storm's arrival in the park, and the snowplow operation as workers fight to clear the roads and keep a path open to the outside world. It features storm footage, and many shots of deep snow drifts in the park. And because it was made in 2004, it shows the old tower on top of the mountain (that has since been replaced by a wide viewing platform that is accessible by a ramp). This documentary is featured regularly in the park's interpretive program. Designated by the state legislature in 1915, Mount Mitchell State Park is located in the Black Mountain Range in Yancey County, NC and encompasses nearly 2000 acres. For more information, check out Mt. Mitchell's website at ncparks.gov/